Suction apparatus actuated by air pressure



Juy E2, E949., w. H. GILLILAND 2,475,832

SUCTION APPARATUS ACTUATED BY AIR PRESSURE Filed Feb. 25, 194e i 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILL/AM H. GAL/LAND.

ATTORNEK July 12, 1949. w. H. GILLILAND 2,475,832

SUCTION APPARATUS ACTUATED BY AIR PRESSURE Filed Feb. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WML/mw H. GAL/LAND.

A TTORA/EY.

Patented July 12, i 1949 SUCTION APPARATUS AKCTUATED BY AIR PRESSURE william H. Gilliland, Birmingham, Ala., assigner to Ethel Walker, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 25, 1946, Serial No. 649,825

.ners or other areas of accumulation. Such commercial establishments are frequently equipped with air tanks and compressors which could be readily converted into vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the teaching of this invention. The necessary apparatus need comprise no more than a portable hand. unit or a mobile wheeled unit which may be readily aixed to the outlet side of a compressor or compressed air tank by means of a hose or the like, and may thus utilize and add to the utility of existing shop equipment without the substantial expense of additional equipment.

Conventional commercial suction apparatus is cumbersome and is ill-adapted for sporadic use. chiefly because a motor, wheel, vane or other mechanical device must be set in motion. My invention on the other hand may be turned on and olf instantly without the necessity of setting a mechanical apparatus in motion to create a vacuum.

It is often an objection to conventional vacuum equipment that the blades, motor and other moving parts become fouled or coated with dust, sawdust and other debris so that breakdowns in the equipment is common. For example, electric motors which drive vacuum machinery frequently become clogged with line saw-dust, arc and burn out.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved device by use of which a source of compressed air may be used to create a vacuum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved suction apparatus for shops, factories and the like which will overcome the above named difficulties and fulll the requirements of a suction apparatus devoid of moving parts.

Another further object is to provide a new and improved mobile or portable suction apparatus of light weight, simple construction, which is readily and economically manufactured.

An additional object is to provide a new 'and useful means for economical and efficient re- 1 Claim. (Cl. 230-95) moval of debris from a factory, shop or filling station.

4Another object is to provide a suction apparatus whi-ch is positive and instantaneous in operation, and the motive power of which is remote and unconnected to the vacuum lines so as to avoid becoming fouled.

f This invention also has for an object the elimination of disadvantages in connection with prior art apparatus of this general character'.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangernent, and combination of the various parts of the apparatus whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

vIn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a suction apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the controls and operative mechanism associated with' the left hand portion of Figure 1, drawn toa larger scale.

''Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3:'-3 ofv Figure 2.

{Figure 4 is an elevational view, in section, of

a modified form of the invention, incorporating a debris separator.

l@Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the upper and lower right hand corners of the debris separator illustrated in Figure 4.

1'Figure 6 is a detailed fragmentary view of a latching mechanism and associated structure as seen from the lower left hand side of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I show a suction apparatus generally denoted by the numeral I0 connected by means of a compressed air line H to a compressed air unit, generally denoted by the reference numeral I2. The compressed air line is preferably of flexible hose.

The suction apparatus I0 generally comprises a nose tube 20 preferably curved downwardly at its terminal extremity 2|, forming a suction inlet and formed at its other end with a nozzle 22 converging in a direction away from the inlet and terminating at the small end of a diverging nozzle 26 formed in a tail pipe 25. The converging nozzle 22 preferably extends slightly into the small end of the diverging nozzle but in laterally spaced relation defining an annular jet orice 28 therebetween.

The tail pipe preferably comprises a cylindrical section 25' belled out at an outlet end 21 for the Ipurpose of removably securing a debris receptacle 30 having in this embodiment the form of a closed foraminous bag or the like. For closing the bag around the outlet a draw string 3| may be utilized preferably extending through a loop 33 formed around the mouth of the bag. By use of a draw string the bag may be readily removed for cleaning and replaced.

Surrounding the adjoining adjacent end portions of the nozzles is a coupling 35 comprising a male fitting 36 and a female tting 31 making a threaded connection 38 with one another. The male fitting may be secured as by welding, brazing, or the like at 39 to the periphery of the nose tube, while the female tting may be similarly joined to the tail pipe.

The female fitting is formed with an axial bore 40, an inner wall 4| of which is approximately flush with the tip of the diverging nozzle 26. When coupled with the male fitting, an end 45 of the female tting preferably abuts one face of a series of adjusting shims 46 bearing upon an annular shoulder formed in the male fitting, thereby forming an air-tight joint and at the same time spacing the inner end of the male fitting from the inner end of the female fitting. Positioning the ttings in the manner described fixes the size of an expansion chamber 50 to suitable size and properly spaces the nozzles one relative to the other.

An outlet port of an air control valve 56 is connected with the air expansion chamber by means of a metal conduit 55 provided with couplings 51 to permit it to be removed whenever desired. At its inlet port 60 the valve may be threadedly connected with the flexible air hose The valve comprises a body 65 defining an inlet chamber 66 and parts 61. An outlet chamber 1I is continuous with the outlet port 5| and is sealed off from the inlet ports by a properly seated valve element 12 normally urged into a closed position against the seat by a spring 13. The valve may be opened by pressing a button 11 affixed to a valve stem 18.

A male fitting 15 of conventional design has one end threaded into the inlet port 60 of the valve and the other end clamped in place within the hose by means of a clamp 19.

For convenience in transporting and using the apparatus a handle 85 is provided, formed with a transversely curved upper portion 86 for partially receiving the hose. By this device the hose is readily supported in aligned position, curving the handle for greater comfort, convenience and strength. The handle as well as the valve may be welded or otherwise secured to the tail pipe.

The compressor unit 2 comprises compressor I3 driven by a motor I4 as by means of a belt |5 and delivers air under pressure through a pipe I6 to a compressed air storage tank |1.

In the use of my improved suction apparatus, when the valve is manually opened by pressing down the button 11, compressed air from the tank I1 passes through the hose through the valve 56 and enters the gas expansion chamber 50 by way of the conduit 55. The compressed air eX- pands with great force through the annular orifice 28 in the direction of the arrows, thence through the nozzle 26 and tail pipe 25 into the receptacle 30.

As the compressed air rushes into the tail pipe through the annular orifice, a pressure drop at the tip of the converging nozzle 22 draws air rapidly into the inlet end 2| of the nose tube carrying any debris adjacent the end into the tube, thence through the tail pipe and into the receptacle 30. The constant jet of air through the orifice 28 is thereby eiective both to create a partial vacuum within the tube 20 and to cause a flow along the tail pipe into and through the pores of the receptacle 30, depositing the debris therein. The preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, may be readily transported by means of the handle 85.

As a result of high air pressures that can be maintained in the tank |1, a very powerful, effective and immediate vacuum may be created whenever desired, merely upon opening the valve 56.

A modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 through 6 discloses a mobile suction unit generally designated by the numeral |00 comprising a flexible hose piece |20 of substantial length secured by a clamp |2| tightened by means of a bolt to a cylindrical mouth portion |22 of a converging nozzle |23. The nozzle is secured by a male fitting |24 in a position adjacent to and in axial alignment with nozzle |26. A female fitting |21 secured to the male tting contains an air expansion chamber |30 communicating with the nozzle |26 through an annular orifice |3| surrounding the tip of the converging nozzle.

The above described assembly may be slidably or rigidly mounted in a collar |35 adapted to fit over the end of the tail pipe, and affixed to a Wall |36 of a debris receptacle |31.

Threaded to the female fitting |21 by means of a nipple |38 is a manually operable valve |39 provided with a stem and handle |40. The valve is connected at its inlet end with a flexible air hose |45 communicating with a suitable source of compressed air. For convenience the hose may be attached to the receptacle as by cleats |46.

The debris receptacle |31, rectangular in shape in the embodiment illustrated, may be made, for example of plastic, wood or metal having the front wall |36, of solid construction. Opposite side walls |5I, a top |52, and a bottom |53 may likewise be of solid or rigid construction. A perforate or porous rear door |55 is most conveniently located at the rear wall of the receptacle. The door |55 may be hung upon hinges |56 at the upper rear corners, and provided with suitable latches |51 at lower rear corners. The hinges may be hung in any conventional manner. The latches preferably comprise flat plates |58 formed with a lug |59 extensible through suitably shaped slots |60 in a rearward edge |6| of the receptacle. Ears |62 provide a hand hold by which the latches may conveniently be pivoted about pivot pins |63 so as to retract the lugs |59 from their slots when the rear door |55 is to be opened for cleaning accumulated debris from within the receptacle.

The rear door I 55 preferably comprises a frame |65 having an open central section and retains between its forward and rearward walls |66 and |61 respectively, an inner layer of porous material such as woven cloth |68 and an outer layer of more rigid material such as metal screen |69. The rim or margin of the frame is hollow and in cross section appears U-shaped with the open side of the U facing inwardly and adapted to receive the edges of porous material and the screen. A gasket or seal |10 of rubber or felt or other suitable substance may b'e provided around the inside of the door to prevent the escape of dust laden air. For the purpose of furnishing strength and adequate surface area for seating the s'eal the sides, top and bottom of the receptacle are formed with a ange I1|.

Suitably cushioned wheels such as swivel castors |12 may be secured to the bottom of the receptacle in any desired manner to permit easy movement over a floor or other surface.

It will be understood that the nozzles may telescope to a desired extent and need not have the adjacent tips lying in substantially the same cross sectional plane. Likewise the fittings or couplings employed, instead of being the threaded type illustrated, may be of any satisfactory style, such as clamp-on, snap-on etc. On occasion ttings need not be provided but the nozzles may be permanently positioned relative to one `another as by Welding. It is desired, however, that for purposes of cleaning, replacement, adjustment, or repair the nozzles be made separable. Axial adjustment of the nozzles may be readily secured by removing one or more layers of the shims 46, 46', so as to adjust the vacuum to a maximum effective degree.

By way of example, though not of limitation, a suitable annular orice is found to be secured by building the nozzles from a #9 gage sheet metal material, the tapered part of the nose tube being approximately 5 in length and the tapered part of the tail pipe being approximately 6" in length. The nose tube at its maximum diameter has been found satisfactory at 21/2" internal diameter and the narrowest internal diameter one inch. A corresponding tail pipe may be approximately 11/8" internal diameter at its narrowest portion and 2" internal diameter at its widest part. The shims may be any size, but a thickness of approximately .050 inch is suitable, and the total amount of axial adjustment should be of the order of at least 5%.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my'invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and methods.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A suction apparatus comprising a source of air pressure and a flexible air line therefrom, a suction piece having an outer inlet end, an inner frusto-conical converging end portion and an annular coupling element surrounding said end portion adjacent the inner end thereof, a tail pipe having an axis common with said converging end portion and comprising a diverging frusto-conical inletl portion in communication with a receptacle at the outlet of said tail pipe, the inlet end of the inlet portion having a diameter Iexceeding the diameter of the inner end of the converging end portion, said ends having adjacent positions concentric With said axis forming an annular space therebetween, a second coupling element adjacent the inlet end of the inlet portion complementary to the rst coupling element and adjustably engageable therewith in position concentric with said axis, said coupling elements in coupled position having an expansion chamber therebetween communicating with said annular space, a longitudinally disposed handle on said tail pipe, an outlet end section of said pressure line extending along said handle, an air valve between the handle and the coupling elements having a manual releasebutton adjacent the handle and a conduit operable jointly with said air valve and said second coupling element to connect the pressure line with said chamber.

WILLIAM H. GILLILAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,444,069 Gyger Feb. 6, 1923 1,546,420 Waldron July 21, 1925 2,091,642 Lingenbrink Aug. 31, 1937 2,154,773 Reed Apr. 18, 1939 2,164,552 Taylor July 4, 1939 2,183,150 Patterson Dec. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,346 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1935 

